Our Awards

TagDiwali Diya Decoration

If you’re a busy mom who’s had no time to get the house decorated in time for your Diwali guests, don’t panic. We’ll show you how to throw together some unique and last-minute Diwali decorations that make your home a welcoming place for your visitors.

Most Indian homes have access to some yardage – old saris too pretty to throw away and sentimental value stuff that doesn’t go too well with today’s homes designed with contemporary décor principles in mind.

Well, all this can be put to good use at Diwali time, an occasion for reviving traditions and old-fashioned ideals – and that too, without spending a lot of time or money!

3 Unique Diwali Decorating Ideas To Greet Your Guests

• Floating Diyas And Flowers

You can use existing brass and copper ‘handis’ (miniature cauldrons) that are brightly polished as a corner decoration in your bedroom, living room, at the base of a staircase or even in the pooja room.

Simply fill these with water, toss in flower petals and float a tea-light or diya in the center of each pot when dusk falls: a great alternative to artificial light that gives a soft glow to your home and enchants guests too!

Sprinkle in some silver or gold dust available in vials to jazz up the floating flowers, if you like against a backdrop of a brocade sari piece mounted on the wall or made into a window screen, for added ethnic charm.

Flowers and floating candles make a beautiful and welcoming centerpiece

• Bells Or Wind Chimes

Ring in the Diwali cheer with bells! Both conventional and modern bells (some diya and multi-layered diya stands also come fitted with bells now) can be used at different heights to give an interesting effect – or even announce the presence of a visitor when hung in foyers and entrances. Wind chimes with bells are a popular alternative that gives soft music too.

Wind chimes are a cheap and attractive home decor accessory

• Get Creative With Knick-Knacks

Visit the numerous Diwali melas, local NGO’s and charities for festive sales and special products you can pick up at a fraction of the market cost (lamps, colored, scented and floating candles, wall-hangings, paper lanterns, decorated platters for serving snacks etc.)

Use inexpensive urns you can decorate yourself: simple techniques include dyeing a thick rope of any color you want, applying some adhesive and wrapping that around the earthen pot till it’s fully covered.

Combine various sizes under mood lighting (dim/two-toned bulbs) and set them against a traditional painting or on a brightly colored rug or footstool for an elegant, earthy look!

For more interesting information, tips and advice on topics of your choice, contact the right professionals. The Write People Are Just A Click Away!

Additional resources:

Interior Decorating For Everybody – Decorating your home doesn’t have to be expensive. Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and at a low price, if you have a feeling for line and color, or for either. Learn to create a tastefully decorated home and obtain a perfect balance, with infinite grace and winning charm.

Book of Inspirational Interiors – Have you often mulled over how to fix unused spaces in the house or frowned at an empty corner? Tired of thinking about ways to spruce up a room? Wish you had some go-to-place to get some ideas? This list of 250+ inspirational rooms, spanning a variety of styles, is sure to get your creative juices flowing.

Fun Kids Crafts – Learn how to make unique kids crafts & art projects in no time at all with templates, pictures & easy-to-follow instructions for 700 unique fun kids crafts. Studies have shown that craft activities can increase problem solving skills, boost self esteem when successfully finishing a project and radically improves creativity, concentration & perseverance in a child, up to 40%.

Diwali comes once a year and what better way than to celebrate it with plenty of pomp and cheer. It is best to start your preparations way ahead of time as there is lots to do. Diwali is a festival where Goddess Lakshmi, who is the goddess of wealth, is welcomed into the house and so the house is cleaned and kept ready for that day.

Cleaning the house will take a few days. The main objective at this time is to keep the rooms clear of clutter and have as much open space as possible. Once this is done upgrading the furniture or enhancing the look of the house with accessories will make it brighter and more beautiful. At this time of the year it is auspicious for people to buy new furniture or rugs for the house.

Since the living room is where you will receive guests, which is the room that will need more creativity in terms of design and decoration. There are many home improvement outlets that would help you over here and give you some ideas.

A few bright and attractive cushions to go with the divan or sofa will make the area stand out. Use traditional Indian fabric and Indian designs all over the room. Alternatively, create an Indian corner with a few traditional Indian items placed upon a colorful Kashmiri area rug.

Artificial flowers are lovely and colorful to the eye and easy to maintain, they can be placed in a tall vase. Torans (real or artificial flowers in a garland) are tied on the wall above the doors. You can either buy the individual flowers and string them together or alternatively you can choose from the wide array that is available in shops at this time of the year.

Diwali is the festival of lights and traditionally all houses are decorated with many tiny lights called diyas. Lighting small diyas and placing them on windowsills all around the house can instantly transform the house and make it look very captivating.

Well-designed diya arrangements can transform the house and make it captivating

Although exotic diyas are readily available for sale at this time of the year, one of the favorite activities at this time of the year, for both children as well as adults is diya decorating. You can paint diyas and decorate them with tiny, shiny beads and sequins in traditional patterns.

Diwali lanterns are usually hung around the house. You can hang several small lanterns from every window and a large one outside the front door. Certain outlets sell lanterns just before the festival; they come in different shapes and sizes and can look very colorful. In India, lantern making or any other form of Diwali decoration is one of the main craft activities for children at this time of the year.

Another traditional home decor at this time of the year is the Rangoli. These are beautiful patterns made with colored powders. Rangoli is usually made on the floor just at the entrance of the house.

Diyas and glass bowls filled with water and fresh flowers, without the stalk like daisies, look very pretty when placed in and around the Rangoli and give the Rangoli its finishing touch.

Interior Design has never been this easy with these rugs. Be sure to take a look at this black area rugs for the latest information.

Additional resources:

Interior Decorating For Everybody – Decorating your home doesn’t have to be expensive. Beautiful things can be obtained anywhere and at a low price, if you have a feeling for line and color, or for either. Learn to create a tastefully decorated home and obtain a perfect balance, with infinite grace and winning charm.

Feng Shui Interior Form – The practical guide to the home. Confidently apply Feng Shui principles to the layout, position of furniture, as well as being able to spot ‘Sha Chi’ and how to overcome any negative features.

Diwali is appropriately known as the festival of lights and the name has evolved from the word, Deepavali. It is one of the most effervescent festivals of India that surpasses religious and geographic boundaries.

Deepavali, in the literal sense, means a row of lamps and is symbolic of the lighting that are integral to the festival. Traditionally, Diwali is celebrated with spectacular illumination; laced with exquisite lamps that are crafted out of clay. They are an integral part of the festivities and add to the fervor of Diwali.

Since it is a five day event, Diwali diyas find prominence on all the five days, more so, on the first and the third day. Houses and surroundings are lit up with an array of clay lamps. The sight is indeed so spectacular that Diwali is appropriately known as the festival of lights.

The History Of Clay Lamps (Diyas)

In recent times, various forms of craft and embellishments have gained prominence in Diwali decorations. In keeping with the present trends, these adornments are embellished with beads, paint, mirror work and sequins, in order to enhance the appearance.

In addition to the decorative importance, there are several mythological aspects that are entrenched deep into the tradition. The history of clay lamps dates back to 2700BC or earlier and among the earliest of diyas was the saucer-shaped lamp.

The styles then changed from the Bronze Age to the Iron Age and they were used in few areas into the medieval times. They developed in antiquity and the shallow bowl with edges was folded to form a spout.

This was followed by the Herodian style which was named after its wide usage during the reign of Herod the Great. Darom, Hebron, Marisa and Askelon were the names of the successive lamps. More recent ones are the lamps in Bethany, Jerusalem and Golgotha styles.

Contemporary Diwali Diyas

The Diwali diyas in recent times, are more ornate and more of a decorative piece in addition to serving the purpose of illumination. Attractive candles may be used to festoon the entrance and rangoli areas. The art of embellishing the traditional clay lamps is a widely seen phenomenon and an integral part of the Diwali craft.

The art of embellishing the traditional clay lamps is an integral part of the Diwali craft

The Purpose Of Diwali Diyas

The main purpose of Diwali lamps may be to festoon homes during Diwali, but there is much more to these versatile diyas. They are used to offer respects to the deceased ancestors and are floated on leaves in the holy rivers of India. This ritual is widely practiced during the festive occasion.

The Enchanting World Of Diya Design

The miscellany is manifold as there are traditional potter-made diyas and the commercially manufactured ones. The latter is available in many varieties and a wide range of designs.

They may be embellished with zari, mirror work and beads. Besides, there may be gems of precious stones and other decorative items. The latest rage is that of electric diyas that are easy to handle and nonetheless enthralling.

Diwali diyas crafted by ceramic designers are a rage too, more so in the urban locales. Creative ones with sharply cut edges, decorated with cutwork and filled with bright colored wax, look attractive and are easy to handle.

Fragrant and dried flowers may also be used to decorate it. Clay or ceramic lamps in vivid colors add to the effervescence of Diwali celebrations.

Diwali Gifts – Infibeam.com is an online shopping destination & community that focuses on selling Electronics, Home & Lifestyle products, Automobiles, Gifts, and a lot more at lowest price. Send Diwali Gifts & Diwali Diyas to India with free shipping.

Additional resources:

Goa Beach: Guide to Beaches of Goa – Planning on taking the brood to Goa this Diwali vacation? Check out this guide for Goa beach holiday destinations and travel tips for that special vacation, off the beaten track.

Last Minute Traveler: How Procrastination Can Save You Money – The essential guide to last minute travel deals that only available if you are able to travel at the last minute. Having open travel dates can open up a world of possibilities for you when you know how to grab a last minute deal to your dream holiday.

India, with its cultural and festive diversities, has much to offer. Every festival and the preparation of everything from sweets, decorations, puja to gifts is an enjoyable ceremony and we take great pride in the upkeep of these traditions.

Diwali in 2010 is on November 5th, and is a lavish festival which is celebrated to the maximum. The excitement is double for your kids if they can help in making reusable rangolis and torans, and in decorating the diyas.

Making The Rangoli

Traditional powder-based rangolis have always added grace and charm to a home’s entrance, but why not get your kids to make reusable rangolis?

1. Take a good quality mount board (available at any stationer’s shop). These are available in standard sizes and can be cut into half with a sturdy scissor

3. Get your child to choose a square, hexagon, or a simple circle for the base of the rangoli. We have a chosen a circle. Draw the maximum possible circle on half of the mount board. Cut the circle with a scissor.

4. Take a small quarter plate and place it inside the big circle cut out of the mount board. Draw the inner circle lightly using a pencil.

5. Take some yellow color in a palette or steel plate. Add two three drops of water. Take a sponge and dip it into the yellow color. Now dab the same in the small circle on the mount board.

6. Take some orange color in the palette and add some drops of water to this. After the small circle is filled with yellow color start dabbing orange color over the rest of the mount board.

7. You have a beautiful shaded effect of yellow and orange on the mount board. Leave it for ten minutes so the colors dries completely. Take red color in the palette. Place the ready made stencil in a desired pattern on this shaded mount board.

8. Hold the stencil in place tightly and using a fresh sponge apply the red color on the design cut out on the stencil. Dab it neatly. Do not add water to the color while using the stencil. Once the entire design has been filled with color then lift the stencil gently. Wait for it to dry and place the stencil in a different direction to repeat the design.

9. Continue the same procedure until you have the desired number of arms on the circular mount board.

10. In case readymade stencils are not available, then we can make our own stencil. Take an A4 size paper and draw the desired design. Place an OHP sheet over this design and cut out the design using a sharp paper cutter. Take care to see that all parts of the design have to be independent and should not be touching or joined to each other. If you are making a flower for example, all five petals should have some gap from each other and there should be a gap between the center and the petals also.

11. Once the stencil design has been completed on the basic shaded mount board, outline the design using golden , silver or rainbow color glitter. This will take an hour to dry. Apply a solution of glue and gloss or lamination glue and water in equal proportion to the entire mount board. Apply three coats and wait for fifteen minutes for each coat to dry. While applying the last coat sprinkle gold or silver glitter powder as you apply the solution.

12. A beautiful rangoli in traditional colors is ready. You can make the same in various shapes and sizes and have more than one , that is a set of three or five sections for the rangoli.

Traditional rangolis add grace and charm to a home’s entrance

Making The Toran

13. In the same way you can make a toran for the door.

14. Take small hexagon pieces of the mount board. You may need five to six pieces for the toran.

15. Shade the mount board in the same way as on the rangoli and then make the stencil design. You can outline with glitter or golden thread. You can also stick sequins, beads and other decorations.

16. Religious symbols like Om, Swastik, Kalash, Laxmi’s feet can also be made on the toran instead of using the stencil.

17. Take a thick golden string about four and a half feet in length.The normal width of a door is four feet, take extra on both sides so that we can wind it on the nails to which the toran has to be fixed.

18. Stick the six pieces of the design on the golden thread leaving equal gap between each. You can even hang bells at the end of the strings, use beads between each of the pieces to make it look more festive.

19. Once the pieces are stuck leave them for an hour to dry and your traditional and festive toran is ready.

20. Take any terracotta diya that is available in the market and paint it using acrylic colors. The colors will dry in half an hour. Stick kundans, sequins or other decorations on the diya. Alternately decorate them with glitter.

21. Hang up the toran on your door. Place the rangoli outside your door. Make numerous diyas and place them around the hand made rangoli.

22. Remember not to place the diyas on the rangoli as this could be dangerous. Also keep adequate an distance between the rangoli and the diyas so that the mountboard does not catch fire.

These simple and easy to make Diwali decorations will light up your child’s face when s/he hears the appreciation that they get for their creativity. Ask your child to create innovative shapes and designs for the rangoli and toran.

Decorate the diyas with shells, mirrors, and beads. Alternate the toran with a number of strings of colourful beads. You can even stick small mirrors on transparent wire and hang a couple of them after every mount board cutout of the toran.

Make this Diwali an eco-friendly one by making the decorations on used mount board, old decorations taken out from rakhis, friendship bands, and wedding cards and greeting cards.

You and your child can spread the message of creativity and color by conserving and re-using the old and throw away items. So go ahead and in your unique way light up this new concept and make a difference to one and all.

Additional resources:

Nurturing Creative Children – Introduce the element of creativity to your child-rearing process. If you have a child with learning challenges the information on high achievers with learning problems is a must read.

365 Kids Games – 365 surefire ways to keep the kids entertained, every day of the year. Discover the secrets to keeping your kids entertained in a cheap and fun easy way.

Travel, Vacation And Airfare Guides – Expert tips for travelers on budget, discount travel, airfares and more. Learn how to travel the world and pay just a fraction of the regular prices on airline tickets, vacation packages, hotel rooms, cruises and more.